Chair



May 22, 1934. E. T. TODD ET AL CHAIR Filed Jan. 21, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheetl INVENTORS ATTORNEYS May 22,1934. E. T. TOE;D ET AL CHAIR Filed Jan;21, 1935' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ATTORNEYj May 22, 1934. E. T. TODDET AL CHAIR Filed Jan. 21, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z INVENTORS ATTORNEYSMay 22, 1934.

E. T. TODD ET AL CHAIR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 21, 1933 INVENTORSATTORNEYS Patented May 22,, 1934 I I uNirj-Tsmres tats can

-Application January Zl, 1933, Serial No. 652,818

16 Claims. (Cl. 155-77) Our invention relates to chairs and, inparticular, to chairs for airplanes and motor vehicles.

(Itis the object of our invention to provide a chair having a framecomprising a stationary portion and a movable portion associated with aflexible seat and back portion, and meansfor regulating the tension onat least a portion of the seat and back portion so as to control therelative position between the stationary and movable portions of thechair as well as accommodate,,the seat andjback portions to the user ofthe chair in either upright or reclining position.

'In particular, it is .our object to provide a chair having atstationaryportion for mounting it on a floor, a pivoted portion comprising theside and back frame of the chair movable from an erect position to areclining position; and a flexible seat and back strip, a portion ofwhich at least interconnects the stationary and movable'portions of thechair and yieldingly holds the movable portion of the chair in erectposition while, at the .sametime, accommodating itself to the weightofthe user of the chair. This yielding connection also accommodates thechange in position of the seat and back strip when the movable portionof the chair is moved to reclining position and energy is storedthereby. x I I It is an object to'provide astationary chair supportingmember and pivoted intermediate its length a tiltable back and side armmember and to interconnect the two members by a flexible stripcomprising a seat and a back providing springs: connected to therespective foundation and-side arm and back members having their freeends connected to spaced points on the flexible seat or back so that,when the user is seated on the seat, the springs will extend toaccommodatethe weight ofthe user and such slack 'as may be provided inthe back portion of the flexible member will be taken up.

It is our object to'provide means by which the chair seat pivots at ornear'its forward edge in such a manner that theseat rotates downwardlyabout that axis.

I It is a further object to provide means by which the chair backrotates about a pivotal axis or fulcrum point in such a manner as todeflect or depress the rearward edge of the seat 'and'at the same timeincrease the linear distance between the forward edge of the seat andthe line of attachment of 'therear edge of the the back; and to soarrange the parts I that the increase in linear distance is provided forthe purpose of having means for storing energy in the structure, such asthe springs, which would otherwise be lost during the reclining motion,and, at the same time, provide for an elongation of the seat length forthe purpose of providing a greater supporting area for the legs of theoccupant. The movement is conducted in such a manner that the lever armof the applied force increases as the lever arm of the restoring orreacting force decreases thereby providing any desired deformation ofthe energy storing means with the addition of any small increment ofapplied force.

We, therefore, provide means for storing the energy which wouldotherwise be lost during the reclining motion, the means being soarranged as to return the energy during the -motion which is a returnfrom reclining position.

It is our object to provide means furnishing an adequate support for theforward edge of the seat in such a manner that the support remains fixedrelative to the foundation or base to which it is attached and on whichthe means rests. This provides for restrained oscillation about thelower forwad edge of the means.

,In addition thereto, we provide means for locking the movable back andside structure on the base or foundation structure. The foundationstructure is stationary in any of the desired positions: and we providecooperating guiding means of mechanically supporting and guiding thebody of the back and side members in addition to the pivotal support onthe foundation or stationary portion of the chair.

It is a further object to provide a flexible seat and back portion whichpermits of the use of cushions: and permits of the reversing of theposition of the back and side frame without disturbing the cushions.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the chair of our invention,the dotted lines showing'the side arm and back structure in its portionof the chair showing the parts when are no occupants:

the chair back is in erect position and there i I Figure 4 is a similarview showing the parts when the chair is in erect position but occupied;

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the chair occupied and in partiallyreclining position;

5 Figure 6 is a top plan view of the chair seat, stationary supportingportion of the chair and a part of the side arm movable structure, theseat being broken away to show a portion 0 the spring attachment; vFigure 7 is a side elevation of a modified form of chair;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the stationary portion of thechairstructure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of another modified form of chair; a IFigure 10'is a rear elevation of the movable back and side arm portionof the chair;

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the chair slightly modified showing thehorizontal plunger' and guide member with its lock;-

Figure 12 is a detail view of the attachment of the flexible back bylacing to the side member of the back frame;

Figure 13 is a side elevation of a reversible chair employing cushions;v

Figure 14 is a front elevation of the stationary portion of'the. chairstructure shownin Figure 1. Referring to the drawings in, detail, itwill be observed that the chair structure consists of a stationaryportion engaging the floor; a movable back and side arm portion pivotedon the stationary portion, means for guiding the pivoted portion on thestationary portion, and

meansfor locking the pivoted portion in various positions with respectto the stationary portion.

i In addition to this means, there is provided J a flexible stripcomprising the seat and back of the chair'attached respectively at itsfree ends to the stationary and. movable portions of the chair. It isconnected intermediate its free ends by a series of springs to an,intermediate portion of. a movable part of the chair. It is alsoconnected optionally by springs adjacent the end where it is attached tothe stationary portion of the chair, the ends of the springs beingmounted on thestationary portion of the Stationary portion ofthe chair:

- frame V This foundation frame consists of apair of front uprightmembers 1, preferably tubular,

having feet 2. At the top of these members there is a cross tubularmember 3 designated as the front seat support. On either side of the 1ofthe foundation frame structure projecting rearwardly and diagonally as,well as upwardly .are' the frame members 4 which join the front member1 at 5. At their upper rear ends the frame'members 4 join at -6 a'rearwardly and diagonally downwardly extending frame member '7, theforward ends of which join the front frame member 1 at its top as at 8and the rear of thetransverse member 3 as at 9.

Locking mechanism This side frame member '7 extends rearwardly anddownwardly and terminates on the floor in Foundation .70 a foot or shoewhich is provided with the eye 11 for receiving the pivoted locking andguiding tube 12. Within this tube is telescoped a second tube 15 havinga series of spaced locking apertures 16 for receiving a locking plunger1'7 actuated by a spring 18 carried in a tubular housa clip 44 forsupporting a plurality of longimemos ing 19 mounted on the side of thetube I2. This spring 18 is retained in the tubular member 19 by thedetachable adjusting cap 20 through which projects the opposite end ofthe plunger 17 that terminates in an eye 21. This eye is connected to apitman 22 pivoted at 23 on the arm 24 of a bell crank pivoted at 25 onthe frame member 7.. The other arm of the bell crank 26 forms a handlewhich can be grasped by the operator for adjusting the position of thelocking plunger 1'7.

The upper end of the sleeve 15 is provided with an attaching plug 27likewise having spaced ears 28 forreceiving a pivot bolt 29 carried onears 30 attached to the bottom of a diagonal seat frame member 31.

Movable frame: Side and back members The diagonal side frame member 31is provided with a fitting 32 carrying a pivot bolt 33 which extendsthrough the stationary foundation' frame member 7. This fitting alsoreceives a vertically disposed side frame member 34 Y which forms thefront of a side frame, the horizontal portion of which is designated 35.The free end of the member 35 joins at 36 the vertical frame member 37constituting a part of the back of the chair. These members 3'7 areconnected together by a rear seat support tube 38. The bottom of themembers 37 is connected at 39 to the diagonal side frame member 31. Theside frame members 37 are also interconnected at this point transverselyby an intermediate seat support tube 40. Diagonal brace tubes 40a extendfrom a center point 40b on the tube 40 to points on the inside of themembers 3'7.

This juncture point of the tubes 31, 37 and 40 is also the juncturepoint of the rear end of 5 a diagonal side frame brace 41, the forwardend of which joins at 42 the juncture of the side frame members 34 and35.

Flexible seat and back member The flexible seat and back membercomprises a textile strip of canvas or other material which is mountedthrough a loop 43 on the front seat support 3. This front seat supportalso carriestudinally arranged springs 45. The free ends of thesesprings are attached rearwardly to a supplementary strip 46 attached at47 to the under side of the seat portion 48 of the flexible strip.

At the rear of this seat portion there is attached another series ofsprings 49 their forward ends being connected at 50 to a strip 51 attached at 52 to the bottom of the seat 48. The rear endof each spring 49is connected at 53 to a clip 54 which is mounted upon the intermediateseat support tube 40. The flexible seat member 48 is continuous and,therefore, proceeds over the springs 49 in a loop 55 upwardly in agenerally vertical direction forming a back.

56 which is mounted at its top upon the rear 340 seat support tube 38.

yielding comfortable seat for the occupant. When the occupant desires torecline, the pin 17 is pulled out of the opening 16, the occupant throwshis weight against the back frame 37 thereby bringing the seat 48 andback strip 56 into the position indicated in Figure 5 still furthertensioning the springs 45 and 49 and storing up energy in those springs.

When the occupant of the chair wishes to bring the pivoted frame back toits vertical position, he leans forwardly, unlocks the pin 17 and hisweight upon the seat portion 48 which tensions the springs 45 and 49plus any tensioning of those springs by the extension of the backportion 56 into a horizontal position permits the stored energy of thesprings under tension to draw the back frame into its vertical positionwhere it can again be looked as desired. Thus, the energy stored in thesprings due to their being tensioned by the weight of the occupant plustheir being tensioned by the extension of the back 56 is sufficient tomove the back frame with the side arm members into the normal verticalposition.

It will be noted that'the telescoping tubes 12 and 15 act as guides forthis movement about the pivot 33.

In Figure '7 the locking device comprises the handle 26, pivot shaft 25which is mounted on the back members 37, the arms 24 and plunger 17operatingi-n the tubular member 19 which in this instance is mounted onthe brace 41 and slides on an arcuate frame member 5'7.

Turning to Figure 9, it will be noted that in that case there isprovided a pivoted tubular member 58 pivoted at 59 on the diagonal brace7 adjacent the front of the chair. The rear end is provided with a bellcrank lock comprising a handle 60 pivoted at 61 and having a pawl 62engaging openings in the brace 31 of the chair back. The free end ofthis locking tube 53 is guided by the guide member 63 which connects thediagonal member 41 with the member 31. The pivot 61 of the handle -60being located between the frame member 31 and the guide member 63prevents the swinging of the back when the pawl 62 is in one of theholes of the frame member 31.

Referring to Figure 11 the tube 58 is telescopically received by acompanion tube 58a which is pivoted at 64 to the back frame. Mountedupon this tube 58 is the locking mechanism comprising the pawll'l-operating in the tube 19 entering apertures 16 in the tube 58a. Thepawl 17 is actuated by the pitman 22 connected to the lever 26, whichlever is in turn pivoted at 33.

The several figures, particularly Figures 10, 12 and 13, show the seatstrip laced by laces 65 to the back frame either directly or to a cover66 having eyelets 67, which cover is mounted upon the back frame.

In Figure 13 is shown a reversible chair. This chair comprises thefoundation frame work consisting of the members 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7. Themovable back and side frame is pivoted at 33. It comprises diagonalmembers 68 attached to the fittings 32, a vertical side frame member 69,

Mounted on these side frame members '37 are studs 73 and springs '74yieldingly working between the side rails 75. The chair shown in Figure13 is adapted to have the back members so shifted that two oppositesides of the, chair may be used as its front or as its back, dependingupon the position of the back members. The seat may be maintained in ahorizontal position regardless of the position of the back, or the seatmay be inclined regardless of the position of the back. If for anyreason the user should desire the seat inclined forwardly anddownwardly, it may beso inclined regardless of the fact that it is notusually desirable to have seats so inclined. The chair constructionpermits such use but does not make it absolutely compulsory.

The usual locking mechanism is provided for locking the chair indifferent positions. The side frame members 37 together with the crossmember 38 may be swung bodily about the pivot 33 to opposite positionsas indicated.

The seat and back strip are arranged in the following manner. A singleseat strip 48 is connected between the ends of the springs 45 and 49.Mounted on this strip are two abutting cushions 76 and 77 between theends of which is connected as at 78 the back strip now indicated as 79which has mounted on either side of it adjacent its back portion thecushions 80 and 81. This strip 79 is adapted to swing from one side tothe other from the back frame so that its lower portion alternately liesupon'the surface of either cushion 76 or 77.

It will be noted in this construction that the distance between thetubes 3 and 40 increases as the chair is tilted thereby stretching thesprings and the weight of the occupant will further stretch thesesprings.

But, in this instance, as in the other instances, as the occupantstretches out in a horizontal position, the springs will feel the effectof the weight to a lesser extent than when the occupant is sitting in anerect position, but this tendency to relax the springs is more thanovercome by the extension of the springs due to the increase in thedistance between the centers of the rods 3 and 40.

It will be understood that we desire to comprehend within our inventionany type of materials and any type of structural form, whether tubularor otherwise.

It will be understood that we desire to comprehend within our inventionsuch modifications as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditionsand uses.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination, in a chair, a foundation frame, a swinging backframe, means pivotally connecting the back frame to the foundation frameremote from the plane of the former, whereby the back frame may be movedbodily up and down, a. flexible body supporting strip interconnectingsaid frames, yielding means adapted to resist the flexing of the bodystrip and to also resist the movement of the back frame, and means tolock the back frame and the foundation frame in various relativepositions with respect to one another.

2. In combination, in a. chair, a foundation frame, a swinging backframe, means pivotally connecting the back frame to the foundation frameremote from the plane of the former,

whereby the back frame may be moved bodily up and down, a flexible bodysupporting strip interconnecting said frames, yielding means adapted toresist the flexing of the body strip and to also resist the movement ofthe back frame, means to lock the back frame and the foundation frame invarious relative positions with respect to one another, comprisingtelescopic means to lockone of said frames in its relationship to theother. e

3. In combination, in a chair, a foundation frame resting on the floor,a back frame mounted thereon, means pivotally connecting the back frameto the foundation frame remote from the plane of the former, whereby theback frame may be moved bodily up and down, a body supporting stripmounted on the forward end of the foundation frame and the upper end ofthe back frame, means connecting an intermediate portion of said stripto the back frame, said connection comprising yielding means adapted tobe flexed by the weight of aperson on the strip and by 'the movement ofthe back'frame with respect to the foundation frame, and additionalyielding means connected tolthe front of the foundation frame and "to anadjacent portion of the seat strip.

4. In combination, in a chair, a flexible body supporting stripconstituting a seat connected to the front and rear of the chair and aback strip, means for varying the distances between said points ofconnection, yielding means connected to the seatadapted to resist thedepression of the seat and the extension of the distance between thepoints of connection of the seat to the chair, and means at the centerof the chair to pivot one portion of the chair on another portion, saidseat being connected to the respective portions whereby the yieldingmeans in cooperation with the weight of the occupant of the seat willtend to move one part of the chair with respect to the other part of thechair, and means connecting the back strip to the pivoted chair portion,said back strip'being adapted at one end to travel with the seat strip.

5. In combination, in a chair, a chair frame, a back frame, meanspivotally connecting the back frame to the chair frame remote from theplane of the former whereby the back frame may be moved bodily up anddown, a body supporting strip connected to both frames, means to place aportion of said strip 'under tension to support the weight of theoccupant of the chair and to resist the movement of the back frame withrespect to the chair frame.

6. In a chair, a stationary foundation frame, a movable side framethereon, a pivoted back frame pivoted to the foundation frame andmovable with respect to both of said frames, means on one of said framesfor guiding said back frame, a seat strip yieldingly mounted betweenopposite ends of the first and second frames, a back strip connected atone end to the seat strip and at the other end to the top of the backframe.

'7. In a chair, a stationary foundation frame, a movable side framethereon, a pivoted back frame pivoted to the foundation frame andmovable with respect to both of said frames, means on one of said framesfor guiding said back frame, a seat strip yieldingly mounted betweenopposite ends of the first and, second frames, a back strip connected atone end to the seat strip and at the other end to the top of the backframe, spaced cushionmembers mounted on the seat strip with their innerends on either side of the point of attachment of the back strip to theseat strip whereby one of said cushions is interposed between the seatstrip and the seat portion and the back strip.

8. In a chair, a stationary foundation frame, a movable side framethereon, a pivoted back frame pivoted to the foundation frame andmovable with respect to both of said frames, means on one'of said framesfor guiding said back frame, a seat strip yieldingly mounted'betweenopposite ends of the first and second frames, a back strip connected atone end to the seat strip and at the other end to the top of the backframe, spaced cushion members mounted on the seat strip with their innerends on either side of the point of attachment of the back strip to theseat strip whereby one of said cushions is interposed between the seatstrip and the seat portion of the back strip, and cush-'- ion members oneither side of the back strip.

9. Ina chair, a stationary foundation frame, a movable side framethereon, a pivoted back frame pivoted to the foundation frame andmovable with respect to both of said frames, means on one of said framesfor guiding said back frame, a seat strip yieldingly mounted betweenopposite ends of the first and second frames, a back strip connected atone end to the seat strip and at the other end to the top of the backframe, spaced cushion members mounted on the seat strip with their innerends on either side of the point of attachment of the back strip to theseat strip whereby one of said cushions is interposed between the seatstrip and the seat portion of the back strip, cushion members on eitherside of the back strip, and means for attaching the sides of the backstrip to the sides of the back frame.

10. In combination. in a chair, a foundation frame, a side frame, meansfor pivotally connecting said frames together at a point intermediatethe front and rear extremities of said foundation frame, a lower seatstrip yieldingly connected at its ends to said frames, the points ofconnection of said strip being adapted to vary in distance from eachother according to the adjustment of the frames with respect to eachother, an independently movable back frame pivoted on the foundationframe, means to limit the movement of the back frame on the side frame,and a combined seat and back strip suspended from the top of the backframe and connected to the seat strip connecting the first two frames,said parts being so arranged that the back frame may be shifted withrelation to the lower strip so that the occupant may be seated onopposite sides alternately of the strip supported by the back frame.

11. In a chair, a foundation frame, a side frame pivoted and supportedthereon, spaced guide members comprising a portion of the side gage insaid guides on the side frame members, means on said guides for limitingthe movement of the back frame members, and means to adjustably positionsaid back frame and side frame members as a unit with respect to thefoundation frame.

bers as a unit with respect to the foundation frame, including means tolock the foundation frame and the side frame with the back frame invarious relative positions with respect to one another.

- 14. In a chair, a foundation frame, a side frame pivoted and supportedthereon, spaced guide members comprising a portion of the side frame,back frame members pivoted to the foundation frame and having meansadapted to engage in said guides on the side frame members, means onsaid guides for limiting the movement of the back frame members, meansto adjustably position said back frame and side frame members as a unitwith respect to the foundation frame, including means to lock thefoundation frame and the side frame with the back frame in variousrelative positions with respect to one another, and yielding means con=nected to a seat extending between the side frame and the foundationframe adapted to restore said side frame and back frame to their initialposition after having been moved from a vertical to a recliningposition.

15. In combination, in a chair, a three part frame comprising afoundation frame, a side frame and a back frame movable relative tooneanother and mounted on a common pivot center on the foundation frame,a common seat strip yieldingly. mounted on the foundation frame and theside frame, cushions thereon, means to limit the movement of the backframe on the side frame, a combined seat and back strip connected to thefirst mentioned seat strip and to the top of the back frame, the partsbeing so arranged that the back frame may be moved so that the occupantcan facev in either direction and when facing in one direction the backframe and side frame will tilt so as to permit the occupant to occupy areclining position.

'16. A chair having in combination, frame, a back frame having side armsthereon, means pivotally connecting the back frame to the base remotefrom the plane of the former, whereby the back frame may move bodily upand down, a seat and back fabric strip connected to the extreme ends ofthe two frames, and yieldable means connected between the middle of thestrip and the lower end of the back frame, and means to lock the twoframes in adjusted position.

EDWIN T. TODD. NEWTON S. HOUSTON.

a base

